My Fairytale Was A Cruel Lie

campus thought I was living a fairytale, the brilliant girl from the wrong side of the tracks who had cap

me as his pet project, and my best friend was a snake who secretly

manently deleted my entire thesis-one hundred and twelve pages of research that r

red, accusing me of deleting it myself to save face. They stood together, a

ptop was open, her final project displayed on the screen. Next to it sat a f

parked, then

to her, my voice cold as ice. "It's just a stupid pro

pte

d relentless study. It was a place she clung to with the desperation of someone who had seen the alternative. Her relationship with Gage Bar

ajor donors, and Gage moved through the university's hallowed halls as if he owned them. He saw Aracely as his most charitable project.

of his friends, the way he casually criticized her second-hand clothes, the way his eyes would glaze o

ed, "He doesn't mean it. He just doesn't know how to show he cares." Cayden knew all of Aracely's insecurities, all of her dreams. She collected them like precious s

he ha

t she chose to believe the lies they both fed her. To lose Gage was to lose the fragile social standing sh

he university's social calendar, and Aracel

or. He was standing with a circle of his teammates, all o

ers, pulling her into his side. "Everyone, this is Arac

chuckled. Aracely'

lling of expensive whiskey. His eyes, however, were not o

ly expenses. "Gage, stop it. You're embarrassing her," she said, her voice a soft

Cayden's eyes was anything but. It wa

rrace. The smile was gone from his f

y said, her voice

he hissed, his grip tightening on her elbow. "My parents are here. Do

e question slipped out

gestured vaguely at the opulent ballroom. "Do you t

rept up her neck. Before she could answer, Cayden appear

racely, her expression one of deep concern. "Are you feeling okay,

inst her. As they walked away, Gage's hand slid from Cayden's shoulder down

ake. And her prince was the villain of the story. The only thing she had left that was truly hers was her th